Banana Bottom Baked Oatmeal

This isn't the healthy recipe the title would lead you to think.  Nope, it's chock full of sugary and buttery goodness, perfect for those cool fall mornings.  Maybe even too much sugar - though, according to Sally, you can never have too much sugar.

(pre-oven photo shoot)

It's perfect for those mornings when you crave something more substantial than milk and cereal and more satisfying than a granola bar.  The texture is similar to a dense, chewy granola bar, and the fruit on the bottom is a nice surprise.  Keep some in the fridge and reheat whenever you're craving oatmeal - it lasted a week before Sally and I managed to finish it all.

Banana Bottom Baked Oatmeal
makes around 6 servings
adapted from Annie's Eats
Ingredients
1/2 cup steel cut oats
2 tbsp. unsalted butter, divided
1 1/2 cups very hot water
2 bananas, sliced
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp. brown sugar, divided
2 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon, divided
1 tsp. cardamom (optional)
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
Dash ground cloves
2 tbs. maple syrup (optional)
1 tsp. salt
3/4 cup milk
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (you can use a toaster oven - Sally and I did).  Lightly grease a 1 quart baking dish (an 8x8 glass dish would be perfect, or a large pyrex bowl)
2. Add the steel cut oats into a large bowl with 1 tablespoon of the butter.  Pout the hot water over the oats and cover the bowl.  Let sit for 20 minutes.
3. For the caramelized bananas: Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter in a medium skillet over medium heat.  Add the bananas, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon to the pan.  Toss gently and cook briefly, about 2 minutes.  Stop before the bananas start to break apart.  Remove from heat and pour into prepared baking dish.  Spread evenly on bottom of dish.
4. After the steel cut oats are done, stir in the old fashioned oats, remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar, maple syrup, salt, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and cloves.  Add the milk.
5. Pour the oatmeal mixture on top of the bananas.  Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes.  Remove and let cool before serving. To reheat leftover oatmeal, place in microwave bowl, add a dribble or two of milk, and reheat in microwave for 30 seconds.